AOL and Four Points by Sheraton have announced the launch of a pilot program at the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea Hotel in New York City. Through this new strategic relationship, AOL and Four Points by Sheraton will provide hotel guests with free access to videos, news, music, movies and more via a co-branded version of the AOL.com Web portal (http://fourpoints.aol.com) as well as courtesy computers located in the lobby set to a co-branded AOL CityGuide New York homepage. In addition, guests who visit the hotel’s signature Family Room area will enjoy the latest in on-demand video content, including access to more than 40,000 videos, through the AOL Video “10-foot” living room experience which will run on a large screen television connected to an Intel Viiv technology-based PC.

“We’re excited to work with the Four Points by Sheraton on this pilot program and to offer their guests access to our popular Web brands and services,” said Kevin Conroy, Executive Vice President of AOL. “From getting up-to-date information on what’s happening in New York to experiencing AOL’s latest online video content and services on large-screen televisions, AOL is pleased to provide guests of the Four Points by Sheraton with the best that the Web has to offer.”

“At Four Points by Sheraton our goal is to provide travelers with an honest value, uncomplicated comfort and fun! Through our strategic relationship with AOL, guests at our Chelsea property will have free access to industry-leading on-line content anytime during their stay,” said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Four Points by Sheraton. “From music and movies to videos and news, this pilot provides our guests with one of the richest entertainment experiences available.”

The Four Points by Sheraton-branded AOL.com portal will serve as the home page for guests accessing the Internet through the Chelsea hotel’s high-speed network - and at Four Points, Internet access is always free. Through this portal, a wide range of content available from the AOL(R) service - including videos, news, music, movies and more - as well as communication tools such as email and the AIM service, will be accessible to guests, enabling them to enjoy a rich array of information and high-quality entertainment.

Instead of stuffy, staffed concierge services, Four Points uncomplicates the self-sufficient traveler’s local planning by providing courtesy computers featuring the Four Points by Sheraton-branded AOL CityGuide home page. A one-stop destination for people who want to know where to go and what to do, this specially designed home page features the city’s top restaurants and attractions along with special program offerings available at the hotel. AOL CityGuide also allows guests to get directions, access editorial recommendations and purchase movie and event tickets online.

In the Four Points brand’s signature, comfortable Family Room, guests can sit back, relax and enjoy the AOL Video “10 foot” Digital Family Room experience, which combines the powerful capabilities of the PC with the familiar face of TV. Through the AOL Video experience, AOL Video’s online library of more than 40,000 on-demand videos - including movies, full-length TV shows, music videos, concerts, and more - is delivered from the Web to a large screen television via an Intel Viiv technology-based PC. Intel Viiv technology is Intel’s premium brand for in-home media optimized PCs. The technology helps connect the PC to TV, and enables consumers to manage, share and enjoy a broad array of digital entertainment with the energy-efficient performance delivered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The technology is widely supported by a number of PC and consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as content and service providers such as AOL.
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